A private pilot's letter has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to hint it might allow Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey to remain open—maybe—but only as a general aviation facility and not for airline flights.
In the response to Carlton Green's letter, an FAA official wrote that if a new commercial airport is built to accommodate FAA safety concerns about larger aircraft, "the FAA is not requiring that the existing (airport) be closed."
However, although primary FAA funds now designated for Friedman would be diverted to a new airport, operators of Friedman "would have the option of shifting some of the primary entitlement funds from the new site to Friedman if they so desired," wrote Bill Watson, of the FAA's regional district office in Seattle.
"If the community decides they want to keep (Friedman Memorial Airport) as a general aviation airport, we could work with the state on use of apportionment funds to keep it safe," Watson wrote. "We re not prepared to make a final call at this time pending more answers from the ongoing feasibility study, but have not ruled out continuing support."
Keeping Friedman open has been a point of contention among general aviation pilots. The present field would be perfectly adequate and safe for non-airline aircraft and should be kept open, they argue.
But finding funds for continued operation of Friedman remains the question.
The FAA letter is bound to give some heart to Wood River Valley resort and business interests who want to retain Friedman as a full-service commercial field by seeking an FAA waiver on standards and/or spending tens of millions of dollars to modify the airport to comply with FAA safety requirements.
The FAA's letter to Green comes as a citizens site selection committee is winnowing down the list of potential sites for a new airport far removed from the present field, and was revealed Wednesday night, almost as an afterthought, by Friedman manager Rick Baird, in the last few minutes of an hour-long public meeting in Shoshone.
A potential new airport site has emerged in Lincoln County just below the Blaine County line east of state Highway 75. Less than 25 residents gathered in the county courthouse to hear Baird explain, as he has in several other town hall-style meetings in Blaine and Camas counties, why the search for a new airport is underway.
Green could not be reached for further comment about his letter.
A unique example of a local airport choosing to sacrifice FAA funds for local control has developed in Naples, Fla., where the airport's governing body banned noisy, older Stage II jets. The FAA ruled it could not impose such restrictions without losing funds.
The airport chose to give up funds. Baird said he's not familiar with what local funding has been developed to operate the field.
In Friedman's case, some $150,000 that is funneled annually by the FAA through the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Aeronautics might be used to operate a noncommercial Friedman.
But Baird said discussions about that alternative have not been held.
Another issue would be the fate of 40 acres bought with $4.3 million in FAA funds for expanding Friedman. In the past, the fear was that if Friedman were retained as a general aviation facility, the FAA would require the 40 acres to be sold and proceeds used for a new airport. Selling the land could cut the 6,952-foot runway back to 4,800 feet, posing safety questions for operations of larger, faster corporate jets whose traffic volume has increased dramatically.
The Shoshone meeting covered the gamut of familiar questions.
Question: Would the flight pattern at a Lincoln County site create noise for residents?
Baird: New jets are quieter. Wind conditions would keep the flight pattern away from residential areas.
Question: Howe many jobs would an airport create?
Baird (paraphrased): Friedman has about 100 jobs.
Question: What of Twin Falls airport as a new site?
Baird: Twin Falls is a long way from Sun Valley resort areas, and thus not desirable.
Question: Who pays for a new airport?
Baird: Up to 95 percent by the FAA, depending on availability of airport trust fund money.
Question: How much land is needed?
Baird: Ideally, 1,200 acres (the present airport is 220 acres).
Question: What about impact of chemicals on the environment?
Baird: Airports are noisy and can pollute. But new technology would involve catch basins for deicing fluids.
Question: When will a decision on a site be made?
Baird: The committee will recommend in April or May, the airport authority in perhaps June But studies will continue for several more years.
The site committee meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Old County Courthouse in Hailey.
